The PAD Collaborative, a group of 17 organizations convened by the American Heart Association to address the growing burden of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the United States, has released a new and expanded version of its interactive map. The updated tool tracks trends in PAD-related lower limb amputations by incorporating precise geographical information and integrates new, post-pandemic datasets as they become available. This tool is free and available to the public, making it a valuable resource for patients, caregivers, health care professionals and community leaders seeking to identify PAD amputation hot spots, target interventions and advocate for change to improve patient care and outcomes.
This interactive map visualizes the number of people in each U.S. county and congressional district who experienced lower extremity amputation within five years of being diagnosed with PAD. This five-year tracking approach provides a clearer picture of how PAD impacts patients over time, highlighting where the risk of amputation is highest and offering a snapshot of PAD-related care across geographic regions. These insights help health care professionals, policymakers and community leaders better understand local trends and identify where additional screening; treatment resources and patient education may be most needed.
According to leading experts in PAD, screening and management are crucial to prevent amputations. Enhanced care systems, research and health policies are also needed. PAD impacts 10 to 12 million people in the U.S. The condition is caused by arterial plaque buildup that reduces blood flow from the heart to extremities such as the legs and feet. Resulting complications lead to nearly 150,000 lower limb amputations each year.
"The enhanced map provides a powerful lens into the communities most affected," said Marc Bonaca, MD, MPH, FAHA, FACC, American Heart Association volunteer, Chair of the PAD Collaborative, Executive Director of the Colorado Prevention Center, Director of Vascular Research and Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado. "This insight empowers healthcare professionals, individuals and community stakeholders to take targeted action, turning PAD from a tragic inevitability into a public health victory."
Many complications related to PAD could be prevented through early screening and effective treatment. However, many diagnosed patients do not receive guideline-recommended care. Overall awareness remains low, with nearly 70% of Americans unaware they may be at risk for PAD.
The expanded map is part of the PAD Collaborative's work to advance the goals of the PAD National Action Plan to facilitate changes aimed at reducing the number of people facing life-altering lower limb amputations.
In addition to geographic data, the new map includes filters to explore key demographic characteristics such as age, race and gender, allowing users to better understand trends in PAD outcomes across different populations. The expanded tool provides detailed insights that help illustrate regional differences in PAD outcomes, supporting a clearer understanding of where targeted approaches and resources may be needed across the country.
The data used to create this heat map is publicly available Medicare and U.S. Census Bureau data through 2023. Amputation rate is defined as the number of lower limb amputations per 1,000 Medicare patients with PAD.
